Thrissur: Yoga in weed-covered pond

THRISSUR: Doing yoga in a weed-covered pond has its risks, but for Yogacharya P.S. Ananthanarayanan, it is a simple task. He proved it by doing jalayoga (water yoga) on the International Yoga Day on Friday in the Vadakkechira pond under Cochin Devaswom Board, which is infested with weeds.

Ananthanarayanan, who celebrated his 64th birthday a day before the IYD, floated for one hour in the pond striking postures of vrikshasanam, thadasanam, thandavasanam, matsyasanam and parvathasanam.

In the previous IYDs as well, Ananthanarayanan aka Swami had done water yoga in the well-known ponds in Thrissur town.

Swami had first opted to take up sanyasa and worked as an RSS pracharak. Sangh veteran P. Madhavji, who founded Thanthra Vidya Peetam in Aluva, taught him the pranayama (breathing techniques) by which he learnt the subtle ways of controlling the breath to stay afloat in water to do water yoga.

Swami’s friend and expert swimmer Krishnan Aarattupuzha, who is also a senior citizen, was floating in water to ward off the weeds in the pond for the acharya to do the yoga.

As swami runs a grocery shop at Jai Hind in Thrissur, the district committee of Chamber of Commerce organised the event.

“I am not sure whether yoga is devoid of religion, but in whatever way you perform it even by avoiding certain asanas due to religious reasons, yoga takes everyone to the same space of wellness and peace,” Swami added.  

Swami who resides at Punkunnam here has two sons, P.A. Subramanyan an automobile engineer, and P.A. Harihara, who holds a degree in visual communication.

Swami’s wife Lalitha Ambal is a cuisine expert.